Dyslexia diagnosis at 50 'was a feeling of relief'

Phil Mercer presents BBC Radio Berkshire's breakfast show

Working as a newsreader and a presenter on the radio means I have had to read out loud quite a lot - it's an essential part of the job.

But over the years I'd sometimes struggle with some of the basic stuff like reading the scripts word for word - I'd hit a wall and make really silly mistakes - and it was frustrating.

When I had the chance to have a test for dyslexia at the age of 50, after being inspired by a feature we did on Radio Berkshire, it established that, yes, I was dyslexic.

It was a feeling of relief but also, for anyone struggling like me, a diagnosis can help you better understand yourself.

Looking back to my school days in the 1980s and early 90s, I would often have to work hard to properly understand things, especially with maths and English.

In the end I did very badly at my A-levels, leaving me frustrated with myself and suddenly not really having a life plan.

Back then there wasn't the support or awareness of dyslexia and the impact it could have on a child's education and prospects - things might have turned out differently if there had been.

'Coping strategies'

Luckily I got to muck around doing radio - hospital radio and then AA Roadwatch travel news before joining the BBC in Oxford.

The BBC was great at teaching you the skills you need for journalism. I developed coping strategies - reading scripts many times over, changing breathing techniques, and using a different font that was easier to read.

Like many things, you get along in life and I think I've done alright, even though I was never tested for or diagnosed as dyslexic.

When we featured the Adult Dyslexia Centre in Maidenhead, which helps people who have struggled with growing up with the learning difficulty, I was inspired to take the test.

Having taken the four-hour test with reading and comprehension and cognitive reasoning and recall, I eventually got the certificate confirming dyslexia.

In a way I'm grateful that it shows I'm not stupid - it's a relief to know there is a diagnosable thing that's gone on here.

I think the biggest thing I've learned is that facing a dyslexia diagnosis is not the end of the world and that there are a lot of things that can be done.

One of the things I often struggle with is keeping my eyes focused on the words in front of me and not drifting around.

My assessor suggested going to a behavioural ophthalmologist, who can work out what's going on and even provide specialist glasses that help control the eyes better.

And for anyone having trouble - finding things like job interviews especially tough - and who, like me, has just struggled through, it's worth taking a test.

The difficulties I've had all now make sense.

What is dyslexia?

• Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that affects about one in 10 people in the UK, including adults as well as children, according to the British Dyslexia Association (BDA)

• If someone has dyslexia, they may have difficulties with their reading, writing or spelling

• It does not affect intelligence and it is not a disease or an illness - it is a condition that someone is born with

• Government statistics show that 6.3m people in the UK have dyslexia, while one in six adults have the reading level of an 11-year-old

• A dyslexia diagnosis is not available via the NHS. It is recognised as a specific learning difficulty and this means it is an educational assessment

• A diagnosis can only be made by an educational psychologist who is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council or a specialist teacher with a valid registration

• Charities such as the BDA can offer advice for people who want to find out whether they may have dyslexia